Shorebirder

Our final day of pelagics into the Gulf Stream off Hatteras, NC was record setting. Unfortunately it wasn't exactly the sort of record we were hoping for. It was the first spring/summer trip on which Black-capped Petrel was not recorded. Things were quite slow for most of the day, as you might have imagined. We did have many Audubon's and Cory's Shearwaters, plus a few Great Shearwaters and Pomarine & Parasitic Jaegers. Storm-petrel numbers were low for the second consecutive day. The highlight of the day was a great look at Cuvier's Beaked Whale (photos). - NB

Following Saturday's cancelation, we were itching to get out and see what Beryl churned up. Throughout the day numbers were low but diversity ended up rather high. The day started with a surprise imm. Red-billed Tropicbird only 8 miles from shore. An adult White-tailed later in the morning provided the North Atlantic tropicbird sweep for the day, a rare occurrence. Other highlights included a subadult Long-tailed Jaeger and a South Polar Skua. All were photographed (coming soon). Cetaceans were highlighted by a pair of Gervais' Beaked Whales. -NB

Friday's trip was really nice. No rarities but I had a lot of fun with the Band-rumps and Black-cappeds. Possibly two forms of BRSP included, photos to come. Today (Saturday) was canceled thanks to a large swell from Beryl. Really a major bummer, but what can ya do. Here's hoping we'll be able to get out tomorrow. We have two trips left, Sunday and Monday. -NB

Just back from Alaska, some highlights of which I posted while on the road. A summary post with photos will come in the future. Next up is Hatteras, NC for four days of Memorial Weekend pelagics with Brian Patteson. My only previous experience off Hatteras was a single July trip a few years ago that produced two White-tailed Tropicbirds and many BRSP & BCPE. Once my travels end next week I'll start to go through photos and will eventually post summaries and photos from Florida, Alaska, and NC pelagics. -NB

After a couple days of narrow misses between wedding festivities, I finally caught up with Aleutian Tern in the Homer area today. A dawn watch at Anchor Pt produced at least five of them, along with one of the continuing Bristle-thighed Curlews plus a Yellow-billed Loon, imm Glaucous Gull, and a few Parasitic Jaegers. Later, at Beluga Slough, Carolyn and I had four Aleuts foraging well offshore. Here we also had a hen King Eider, two Black Brant and a Gadwall. On our way back north, at the mouth of the Kenai River, one or two pairs of ALTE were quite vocal as they quickly passed by. After two days of dipping, I couldn't get away from them! Also here were a pair of Hudwits and a pair of adult dark morph Parasitic Jaegers. Plus two Caribou, life mammals for both of us. So we've departed Homer after an awesome wedding with some great birding sprinkled in. Congrats to newlyweds Chris and Jessie for the coolest wedding possible! Tomorrow CS and I will do a short spruce for...

Today's birding included a 3-hr boat trip from the Homer spit. Best bird? Easily the Kittlitz's Murrelets. -NB

First day in Alaska was spent driving from Anchorage to Homer with many birding/scenic stops along the way. The best bird highlight came late in the day when we reached Anchor Pt and were able to relocate two of the recently found Bristle-thighed Curlews. Tom Johnson and Melissa Roach also located one, which was either a third bird or one of the two seen earlier up the beach together. After sunset two birds were again seen simultaneously, each roosting with small flocks of Whimbrel. Non-avian highlights were certainly Dall Sheep, Mountain Goats, and River Otters. Oh yeah, and the many roadside moose were cool too. - NB